April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2019
This rifle features full octagon barrel, full magazine, folding ladder rear sight, rear sight is cut only for the barrel and has no frame cut. The rear sight is the final variation, graduated to 900 yards and is pictured on page 122 as Variation E in the book "The Henry Rifle" by Les Quick. The front sight is the last type pictured on page 121, referred to as the square back with the tapered blade profile. The barrel address has the larger more expanded second variation type shown on page 75. It has the front sling swivel mounted between the barrel and the magazine, as pictured on page 12. Has the later variation receiver with the large bevel and the octagon top receiver breech which is shown on page 57. The follower cutout shows the milled flats in the receiver slot as seen on page 81, figure II. It has the large variation magazine cartridge follower seen on page 80. The walnut stock shows the last style of buttstock angle, which can be seen on page 90, figure II. The sling swivel is mounted on the left side of the stock, near the top seen on page 111. The stock screws are the later round head type and do not bear serial numbers, which ended at serial number 51xx, show on page 116, figure II. Rifle also sports the late crescent style buttplate, with pointed heel, seen on page 107. Buttplate is a late style with the screw holes having reinforcing bosses cast integral with the plate, page 109, figure II. The trigger pin is the later large diameter type that can be seen on page 63, figure II. A nearly identical engraved rifle with the deer on the left side and engraving on the right side, Henry number 6055, can be seen on page 156 and 157. In 1862 silver plating and engraving added $10 to the list price of $42. This rifle exhibits the extra cost silver plating, on both the frame and the butt plate. While the lever and hammer were finished in cased colors, and the barrel was finished in the standard high polish bright blue, as no other finishes were offered besides plating. This Henry rifle stock referred to as "extra finish" which involved varnish being applied over select walnut, it is most commonly found on embellished rifles. CONDITION: Condition of the stock is excellent. The wood is proud to metal, has never been refinished, retains the majority of its factory extra finish with just usual impressions. Buttplate retain approximately 70% of original silver plating, with the balance simply the brass showing through and blending with no cancer or abrasions. On the frame, the brass is showing through on the carry points and high edges only, with the majority, at least 90% silver plating intact with no bubbling. The barrel legends and edges are sharp and there is some flashes of original blue in recesses and mixing within the homogeneously blending to a butter soft patina, with no roughness to be found. The rear sight retains 90% of the original factory applied nitre blue. The rifling exhibits extremely sharp lands, while the grooves show just very minor black powder abrasions. Overall quite exceptional for a Henry rifle. The bolt is basically patina, but there is still some blue on the extractor. Hammer shows some nice traces of case colors, but mostly darkened. Lever is a soft patina, but does have traces of colors. Overall an exceptional deluxe, plated, and engraved Henry that was well cared for and saw very little actual use befitting admission to the finest collections.